How do you compare nine U.S. House candidates' positions on war, healthcare costs, trade agreements, poverty and other federal issues?

For the the Progressive Democrats of Hawai'i, the answer was "political speed dating," which last night brought together nine of the 10 Democratic candidates for the 2nd Congressional District seat. One candidate, Joe Zuiker, was out of town.

Moving through seven groups of nine to 12 audience members, the candidates were asked their positions on such topics as war, peace, their latest book choices and separation of church and state. Each candidate spent nine minutes with each group at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park.

"I usually don't talk politics on a first date, but I'll make an exception in this case," said former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga, who highlighted his values and his desire to fight for the middle class. "The current (Bush) administration is not making that easy," said Matsunaga, who criticized the administration for "skyrocketing" healthcare costs and tax cuts for the rich.

As soon as state Sen. Clayton Hee sat down with his first group, Nancy Bey Little asked, "What about ferries and rail?"

Hee expressed his support for rail and more general transportation issues, before the topic moved briefly to urban sprawl and land-use issues. "Hokuli'a is the perfect example of land use gone awry," Hee said of the residential development on agricultural land. He then moved from the topic of the luxury project to affordable housing.

First-time candidate Hanalei Apioalani, 27, godson of the late Patsy Mink, who held the 2nd Congressional seat until her death in 2002, also wants to bring local kids home, having just returned himself, drawn in part by a yearning to fulfill Mink's legacy.

Inviting the group to move in closer so everyone could hear, Apioalani said, "I know it's a long shot. I know I'm the underdog. I have no name recognition, no public policy record."

With a background in biotechnology and semi-conductor businesses, however, Apioalani said he has the experience to help "bridge the gap between the public and private sector."

State Sen. Colleen Hanabusa bantered with the group for a bit before someone asked, "What are you going to do for us?"

The next query to her: "What's your first goal in Congress? Impeach the president? Stop the war? Nuke the vice president?"

Hanabusa said she would call for a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq, pointing out that when she ran for the congressional seat in 2002, she went on the record questioning the justification for the war.

Rep. Brian Schatz told a group he had decided to leave his House seat after eight years, two years short of a guaranteed state pension.

Talking about his work as a lawmaker, he brought up his role helping the state join in the purchase of Waimea Valley, and in the process block a proposed condominium development in the area. "It's not just stopping a project, but working ... to prevent the problem going forward," he said.

State Sen. Gary Hooser was asked about the environment, healthcare and whether the four-person Hawai'i delegation should include a woman. Then he was asked if he would support a Department of Peace, which is proposed in a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie. "Yes," he said. "We need to change the conversation. We need to start talking about peace."

State Sen. Ron Menor talked about his desire to champion consumers and businesses, as well as exercise more congressional oversight "to really scrutinize what the executive branch is doing, not just rubber-stamping what they're doing."

City Councilman Nestor Garcia talked about his time as a state representative, where he said he was instrumental in the passage of a law that sends first-time nonviolent drug offenders to treatment instead of prison. Rather than follow the lead of other states, where voters made the decision, "In Hawai'i, it was the first time in the country lawmakers were called upon (to vote) up or down," he said.

Garcia said he would like to work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to find a way to revisit affordable housing contract agreements before they expire to maintain the affordable housing inventory while new units are built.

Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono talked about long-term-care needs, along with a desire to find a way to lower healthcare costs, and drug costs in particular. "This is a huge, huge issue," she said, noting that the insurance industry needs to be brought to the table to discuss solutions.

One of her goals is a prescription drug plan "that's really going to lower prescription drug costs for the people."

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.